Rock Guide Certification
Prerequisites
Students entering the Rock Guide certificate program must be 19+ years of age and possess the following recreational rock climbing experience:
- 3 years of rock climbing experience on a variety of rock types;
- 20 sport routes flashed (10 minimum 5.10+, 10 minimum 5.11-) in the past year;
- 20 short routes (1 - 3 pitches) requiring traditional protection placement (minimum 5.10+);
- 15 multi-pitch routes (8 -14 pitches) requiring traditional protection placement; and
- 2 long multi-pitch routes (14+ pitches) requiring traditional protection placement.
Additional prerequisites include:
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
Guide Training Rock Course
Guide Training Rock is a 9-day field-based training course that introduces students to the preferred methods and best practices that are common to guiding and instructing clients in technical rock climbing terrain. It is the initial course in the Rock Guide certificate program and is a requisite for enrolment in the Apprentice Rock Guide exam.
In addition to the training curriculum of the course, there is also a screening element that ensures students are moving confidently and competently at the 5.10+ expectation, and are capable of proficiently managing their personal safety in technical rock terrain. Students who are unsuccessful in the screening element, will be required to re-screen their aptitudes prior to advancing to the Apprentice Rock Guide exam. Students' movement in technical rock terrain is screened on 5.10+ traditionally protected routes and 5.11- bolted sport routes.
Apprentice Rock Guide Exam
The Apprentice Rock Guide exam is a 7-day practical skills assessment that simulates a variety of technical rock climbing guiding and instructing scenarios. Throughout the exam, students’ technical systems, judgement, decision-making, application, movement, and improvised rescue systems are coached and assessed.
Students who successfully complete the Apprentice Rock Guide exam are eligible to become recognized as professional members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, under the Apprentice Rock Guide designation.
Apprenticeship and Certificate Exam Prerequisites
Upon successful completion of the Apprentice Rock Guide exam, students are expected to gain 1 - 3 years of industry experience under the guidance and supervision of certified guides. Detailed supervision requirements for Apprentice Rock Guides are outlined in the ACMG Scope of Practice document.
Optional Additional Training and Mentorship
The Training and Assessment Program offers an optional 3-day Rock Guide mentorship and exam training course that is designed to support students in their competency development and preparation for the Rock Guide certificate exam. The course is entirely field-based and includes mentorship, a technical update, a review of current preferred methods and best practices, and several simulated rock guiding and instructing scenarios that are comparable to those of the Rock Guide certificate exam.
Rock Guide Certificate Exam
The Rock Guide certificate exam is a 8-day practical skills assessment that simulates a variety of technical rock climbing guiding and instructing scenarios. The exam is divided into two modules, each of which is 4 days in duration. Throughout the exam, students’ leadership, technical systems, judgement, decision-making, application, movement and improvised rescue systems, are assessed.
Students who successfully complete the Rock Guide certificate exam are eligible to become recognized as professional members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, under the Rock Guide designation.
Application Information
Adventure tourism activities and the environments in which they occur are inherently dangerous. When preparing and training independently for ACMG Training and Assessment Program courses and exams, choose objectives that are within your abilities, experience level, and individual risk tolerance.
Application Notes:
- You will receive an automated email response when your application has been successfully submitted.
- You will be notified of the status of your application within 2 weeks of the application deadline.
- Do not apply until all prerequisites are met in full.
- Late applications will be subject to a $110 late applicant administration fee. Please contact the Training and Assessment Program office ([email protected]) to confirm course availability before submitting a late application.
To apply for entry in the Guide Training Rock course, complete the online Guide Training Rock Application Form and submit the following:
- Education and employment resumé;
- A personal experience vitae formatted using the GTR Personal Experience Vitae template; which demonstrates a minimum of 3 years of rock climbing experience on a variety of rock types that includes:
- 20 sport routes flashed (10 minimum 5.10+, 10 minimum 5.11-) in the past year;
- 20 short routes (1 - 3 pitches) requiring protection placement (minimum 5.10+);
- 15 multi-pitch routes (8 -14 pitches) requiring traditional protection placement; and
- 2 long multi-pitch routes (14+ pitches) requiring traditional protection placement.
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
To apply for enrolment in the Apprentice Rock Guide exam:
Students who successfully complete the Guide Training Rock will be automatically enrolled in the Apprentice Rock Guide exam. Students who are required to re-screen or elect to defer their exam enrolment to a subsequent year are required to complete the Guide Training Rock Application Form and submit:
- An updated personal and emergency contact information;
- An education and employment resumé;
- A GTR Personal Experience Vitae; and
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
To apply for enrolment in the Rock Guide Mentorship and Exam Preparation Course, complete the online Rock Guide Mentorship and Exam Training Application Form and submit the following:
- Active professional ACMG membership with an Apprentice Rock Guide designation;
- An education and employment resumé; and
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
To apply for enrolment in the Rock Guide certificate exam, complete the Rock Guide Certificate Exam Application Form and submit the following:
- Active professional ACMG membership with an Apprentice Rock Guide designation;
- An education and employment resumé;
- Letter(s) formatted using the Apprentice Supervision Confirmation Template from your supervising guide(s) that confirm you have a minimum of 20 days of supervised industry experience since successfully completing the Apprentice Rock Guide exam;
- Personal experience vitae formatted using the RGE Personal Experience Vitae template, which demonstrates you have climbed in a variety of regions and on a variety of rock types, have flashed 10 sport routes (minimum 5.11-), and have completed 10 traditionally protected multi-pitch routes (minimum 5.10), in either a recreational or professional capacity, since completion of the Apprentice Rock Guide Exam; and
- A current wilderness first responder or advanced workplace first aid certificate.
Success on the Rock Guide exam requires ongoing training. Maintaining your fitness and personal climbing standard, and continuing to challenge yourself in unfamiliar terrain is strongly encouraged.
Course Locations, Dates, Tuition and Deadlines
| Course Title | Location | Start Date | End Date | Tuition | Application Deadline | Payment Deadline |
| Guide Training Rock | Canmore, AB | 2026-06-05 | 2026-06-13 | $3950.00 | 2026-02-01 | 2026-04-01 |
| Rock Guide Mentorship and Exam Training | TBC | 2026-06-06 | 2026-06-08 | $1655.00 | 2026-02-01 | 2026-04-01 |
| Guide Training Rock | Squamish, BC | 2026-06-14 | 2026-06-22 | $3950.00 | 2026-02-01 | 2026-04-01 |
| Rock Guide Exam Mod. 1 | TBC | 2026-07-14 | 2026-07-17 | $3355.00 | 2026-02-01 | 2026-05-15 |
| Rock Guide Exam Mod. 2 | TBC | 2026-08-25 | 2026-08-28 | |||
| Apprentice Rock Guide Exam | Canmore, AB | 2026-09-05 | 2026-09-11 | $3120.00 | 2026-02-01 | 2026-07-01 |
| Apprentice Rock Guide Exam | Squamish, BC | 2026-09-05 | 2026-09-11 | $3120.00 | 2026-02-01 | 2026-07-01 |